Saints Peter and Paul

Parish Identity & Cluster Life

Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Parish is a small congregation of the Diocese of Superior serving the village of Weyerhaeuser in Rusk County, Wisconsin. It is one of five parishes in the Rusk County Catholic Community cluster, which shares pastoral leadership, office staff, and faith-formation resources. The cluster's mission statement reads: 'We are disciples of Christ. We practice our Catholic faith tradition by serving God's people through thoughts, words, and actions.' The cluster also publishes a more detailed mission: 'Our cluster of parishes is a community of Catholic Christians dedicated to active participation in faith development. Through education and communication, we challenge the members of our parishes to grow in worship, formation, and service.'

History of Ss. Peter & Paul

The congregation was formally organized in 1897. A 'Souvenir history, 50 years 1897-1947' was published for the parish's Golden Jubilee on July 1, 1947, and the present church and school building was dedicated on May 30, 1952. The original church structure burned down at some point in the twentieth century; only its front steps remain at the site. Today the parish shares pastoral ministry with the other Rusk County cluster parishes and continues to invest in its facilities, including stained-glass-window restoration approved in 2025.

• 1897 — parish organized
• 1947 — Golden Jubilee celebrated (50 years)
• May 30, 1952 — new church and school dedicated
• Original church burned; only front steps remain
• 2024-2025 — stained glass and window restoration in progress

Pastoral & Office Staff

The cluster is led by Fr. Papi Reddy Yeruva as Parochial Administrator, with Fr. Joseph Kumar Mayakuntla serving as Sacramental Minister and Very Rev. Patrick McConnell as Supervising Pastor from Medford. Three deacons — Tom Fuhrmann, Craig Voldberg, and retired Deacon Douglas Sorenson — assist across the cluster. Cluster-office staff includes Parish Director Robert (Bob) Lecheler, Secretary Laurie Fortuna, and Bookkeeper Marcy Tracy.

• Fr. Papi Reddy Yeruva — Parochial Administrator
• Fr. Joseph Kumar Mayakuntla — Sacramental Minister (cell 715-292-5449)
• Very Rev. Patrick McConnell — Supervising Pastor, South Central Dean, Medford (715-479-8704)
• Deacon Thomas Fuhrmann
• Deacon Craig Voldberg
• Deacon Douglas Sorenson (Retired)
• Robert (Bob) Lecheler — Parish Director
• Laurie Fortuna — Secretary
• Marcy Tracy — Bookkeeper

Ss. Peter & Paul Parish Council

The Ss. Peter & Paul Parish Council meets several times a year to oversee parish finances, facilities, and pastoral planning. Recent meetings (February 26 and May 14, 2025) recorded healthy weekly giving above budget, ongoing stained-glass and window-replacement projects, and engagement with Bishop Powers's 'Maintenance to Mission' pastoral plan. Council members chair committees on Finance, Pastoral, and Trustee matters.

• Chair: Gary Hecimovich
• Trustee/Pastoral: Tammy Zajec
• Trustee/Finance: Randy Tatur
• Deacon liaison: Tom Fuhrmann
• Members include Bob Lecheler, Deb Bonczyk, John Bonczyk, Lynne Wierzba, Carl Swaney, Betty Antczak, Linda Sieja, Chastity Ridout

Mass & Sacrament Schedule

Ss. Peter & Paul celebrates Sunday Mass at 7:30 AM and a weekday Mass on Thursdays at 8:15 AM. Reconciliation is not regularly scheduled at the Weyerhaeuser church but is offered Saturday morning at 9:00 AM at Our Lady of Sorrows in Ladysmith, and by appointment any time through the parish office. A First Friday Mass is celebrated at Our Lady of Sorrows, and monthly Masses are offered at Ladysmith Care and Rehab on the third Friday at 2:30 PM.

• Sunday Mass — 7:30 AM
• Thursday Mass — 8:15 AM
• Reconciliation — Saturday 9:00 AM at Our Lady of Sorrows, Ladysmith; by appointment any time
• First Friday Mass — 5:00 PM at Our Lady of Sorrows, Ladysmith
• Ladysmith Care and Rehab — third Friday, 2:30 PM

Faith Formation & Sacramental Preparation

The cluster runs a full faith-formation program for parish families, including sacrament preparation registration forms, an Adult Faith Formation track, the 'Called to be Catholic' OCIA process, and the Totus Tuus summer program (scheduled for 2026). Sacramental preparation covers Baptism, First Eucharist, Confirmation, Marriage preparation, and Anointing of the Sick.

• Faith Formation for families — registration and calendar available
• Sacrament Preparation & Registration Forms
• Adult Faith Formation
• Called to be Catholic (OCIA / RCIA)
• Totus Tuus 2026 (summer program)

Hispanic Ministry (Ministerio Hispano)

The parishes of the cluster collaborate to serve Hispanic families in Rusk and Barron Counties. Bilingual services include sacramental preparation, baptisms, anointings, blessings of marriages and homes, confession, prayer experiences, and periodic Masses. The cost of supporting visiting Hispanic sisters is shared across parishes in both clusters.

• Sacramental preparation in Spanish
• Blessings of marriages and homes
• Periodic Spanish-language Masses
• Contact: Therese Tindol, 715-532-9163

Evangelization & Pastoral Planning

The cluster's Evangelization Team is open to any parishioner and meets on weekdays. It is working through Bishop James P. Powers's 'Maintenance to Mission' pastoral plan, which asks each parish to submit three to five goals per year and to reflect on four guiding questions: Where are we now? Where do we need to go? How do we get there? How will we know if we are succeeding? Pillar IV of the plan addresses parish-council governance and has prompted the creation of a cemetery committee at Ss. Peter & Paul.

• Open Evangelization Team (next meeting June 10, 2025)
• 'Maintenance to Mission' pastoral plan adoption
• Cemetery committee formation in progress

Parish Facilities & Stewardship

The Weyerhaeuser property includes the 1952 church with ten stained-glass windows, an attached school building (with classroom and basement windows being replaced), and an old school building that continues to host a 4-H group and parish activities. Recent council actions include approving a $12,000 bid to repair wood trim around the stained-glass windows and a $16,244 Window World bid for classroom and basement windows. CSA (Catholic Services Appeal) is an annual diocesan appeal the parish supports.

• Ten stained-glass windows — restoration approved May 2025 ($12,000)
• Classroom & basement window replacement ($16,244)
• Elevator — being serviced
• Old school building — hosts 4-H group and parish programs
• Catholic Services Appeal (CSA) — annual diocesan appeal

Visiting & Contact Information

Parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed. The cluster office, located at 611 First Street South in Ladysmith, is open 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Monday-Thursday and 8:00 AM to noon on Friday (effective July 11). Phone (715) 532-3051; fax (715) 609-1059. The website warns of scam emails/texts appearing to come from Fr. Joseph — parishioners are asked to verify any suspicious message by calling the office directly.

• Address: N3729 First St., Weyerhaeuser, WI 54895
• Cluster Office: 611 First Street South, Ladysmith, WI 54848-1807
• Phone: (715) 532-3051
• Fax: (715) 609-1059
• Office hours: Mon-Thu 8 AM-4 PM; Fri 8 AM-noon
• Scam alert: verify any email/text appearing to be from Fr. Joseph by calling the office